Let’s turn back time a bit.

Noel’s original plan was to invite Cioranne to the imperial palace. That way, Kailas could naturally return to the palace as well.

‘If possible, taking the Holy Maiden hostage would be beneficial too.’

With the Holy Maiden at the palace, the Pope wouldn’t act recklessly like before. That was roughly his calculation.

But the plan fell apart because Richard, the key to this plan, had a change of heart.

“Brother, I simply cannot take Cioranne to the imperial palace against her will.”

Richard had concluded that the temple made Cioranne unhappy. So he thought that even if it went against her wishes somewhat, he should prevent her from returning to the temple after healing the emperor.

But the night before taking Cioranne outside, this thought occurred to him:

‘What if Cioranne becomes unhappy because of me?’

Her happiness depended on her own heart. Even if being a Holy Maiden and being used by people seemed frustrating and miserable to him, that might be what made Cioranne happier.

‘If I can’t fill her heart…’

In the end, it was because Richard lacked confidence in himself.

So late at night, Richard secretly slipped out of the Holy Knights’ quarters to meet Noel. As Richard rambled on about his anxieties regarding Cioranne, Noel looked at him with contemptuous eyes.

‘Why does he have so little confidence? This is why there’s still no progress in their relationship.’

How many years had he been following the Holy Maiden around? Clicking his tongue, Noel leaned in. Though it deviated from the original plan, it wasn’t necessarily bad.

‘Even if we bring the Holy Maiden and His Majesty to the palace, there’s no guarantee the curse will be lifted immediately.’

The emperor was still a child, and he couldn’t even maintain his human child form for long. Whether the Holy Maiden would act according to Noel’s wishes was truly uncertain…

‘If we secure the Holy Maiden, the Pope’s vigilance and hostility will reach their peak.’

It might actually be safer to stay hidden in the temple with the Holy Maiden until the curse is lifted, like now.

‘Come to think of it, that situation isn’t bad either. His Majesty is alive, so we just need to get approval for important matters in advance.’

Rather, focusing on lifting the curse as soon as possible would be better.

‘But at this point, we need to show proof that His Majesty is alive and well.’

Noel planned to substitute this with a personal letter from Kyle. Kyle’s handwriting was so uniquely terrible that no ordinary person could imitate it.

‘Then we don’t necessarily need to meet at the palace.’

Having organized his thoughts, Noel smiled brightly.

“Then let’s meet in the streets near the temple.”

“Is that really okay?”

“I didn’t think we could get a definite answer about His Majesty’s treatment at the first meeting anyway. His Majesty is quite suspicious, and the Holy Maiden will find it difficult to make a decision. I’d like to talk with her first. Last time, we only exchanged brief greetings.”

“I understand.”

Richard nodded. Then he immediately changed the subject with a gloomy expression.

“I plan to confess my feelings to Cioranne and marry her so we can leave the temple. But what if she refuses?”

“…”

Noel simply gave a gentle smile that looked painted on. Then he launched into an optimistic speech full of positive energy.

“The Holy Maiden likely already knows your feelings. I think it will go well. So have courage and confess.”

In truth, he wasn’t being sincere. To be more honest, Noel was one hundred percent certain that Richard would be rejected.

‘If it was going to work out, it would have happened long ago.’

But he was pushing Richard because he thought the sooner he got rejected, the sooner things would be settled. Ideally, he hoped the Holy Maiden would reject Richard so harshly and coldly that Richard would feel he couldn’t stay at the temple anymore and leave of his own accord.

Richard, who couldn’t have dreamed his brother’s intentions were so dark, sparkled with hope.

“…Do you really think so?”

“Of course. What do you lack? You’re handsome, tall, kind-hearted, and skilled with a sword.”

“But Cioranne…”

Noel hesitated. Tired of this hopeless love story, he simply cut off his brother’s words.

“No buts! This time you’re really going to confess. Dragging it out won’t do any good. Some things require decisive action. Love is one of them!”

“But still…”

“Richard! You’re going to confess! Confess! No matter what she says, don’t waver and convey your feelings. Remember, nothing happens until you express your heart.”

“Brother.”

Though Noel had just thrown together random words to incite Richard, unexpectedly, they touched Richard’s heart. Richard clenched his fist.

‘That’s right. Nothing begins until I express my feelings.’

Richard was the kind of man who could hide his feelings and orbit around Cioranne for ten or twenty years if she was happy, but various recent events concerning Cioranne had pushed him forward. Richard nodded.

“You’re right. I’ll do as you say, brother.”

Looking at Richard’s determined expression, Noel smiled benevolently. Of course, inwardly he thought:

‘Well done, my brother. Get rejected quickly and come back.’

If Richard could read minds, he might have fallen into great disillusionment.

Anyway, that’s why Richard decided to propose to Cioranne. Though he had just made up his mind, he had been thinking about it for a long time, so there was nothing to prepare. He had already bought a ring that perfectly fit Cioranne’s finger years ago, and he had so much to say that he was actually confused about where to start.

The next day, Richard wore the neatest clothes he owned and visited Cioranne’s room. Until then, his heart was pounding with pleasant tension.

But before he could even propose, Cioranne cut him off. After explaining realistically why she couldn’t marry, she smiled wistfully and said:

“Kyle is enough for me.”

“…”

Seeing Cioranne smile like that, Richard couldn’t say anything.

She was right. Her marriage would not be like others’. It would inevitably be a marriage that many would dislike and oppose.

‘I took it too lightly. I thought we could just hide away in some countryside if necessary.’

He had thought they could just live somewhere far away, beyond the reach of those who would restrain her.

In fact, it was Richard who lacked resolve. Realizing this, he bit his lip hard.

And then his hand went into his pocket. His fingertips touched a small box.

It was the box containing the engagement ring.

As he held and fiddled with it, he recalled what Noel had said the night before.

[No matter what she says, don’t waver and convey your feelings.]

Richard’s expression became determined, though for a different reason than before.

‘You’re right, brother.’

Whether she rejected him or not, he needed to express his feelings to her.

Because expressing one’s heart was valuable enough on its own.

‘Yes. Today I will speak.’

Richard gripped the box tightly.

* * *

Richard fell silent, and I looked around the streets with Kyle in my arms. The lively buying and selling looked no different from the usual street scenes.

‘I think I could even take off my hood.’

I had proper permission to go out from the temple. Since I came down to these streets occasionally, though not often, the residents probably wouldn’t be surprised to see the Holy Maiden.

I was tilting my head slightly and turning to look at Richard when I heard a conversation between a vendor and a customer at a nearby chicken skewer stall.

The vendor frowned deeply and shook his head as he spoke.

“Everything else is fine, but only beast-folk can gather Nojub berries. I don’t know what to do after I use up all the Nojub berries I have now.”

‘Nojub berries?’

I know what Nojub berries are. The leaves are used as a spicy seasoning, but their appearance is extremely ordinary. They’re so hard to distinguish from weeds that only beast-folk, who can detect their subtle scent, can identify them properly.

‘But why can’t they use them anymore?’

Although the temple is blocking the emancipation of beast-folk slaves, there are limits to what the temple can prevent if that’s the empire’s policy. All the temple is doing now is denouncing already freed beast-folk commoners as inferior and protesting.

‘So people who support the temple’s logic hate and avoid beast-folk, but they still reluctantly pay them to do work.’

I forgot to follow Richard and stood there eavesdropping on their conversation. In response to the vendor’s complaints, the customer raised his index finger.

“Shh! Keep quiet. Temple informants are everywhere. You know that in this region, the temple’s authority is absolute, unlike other cities.”